LAHORE - The Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) has formed four teams to arrest 22 corrupt officers, including two from DMG and PCS cadres, in the Saaf Pani Company corruption case.
An ACE officer said, “We have obtained five-day physical remand of the Saaf Pani Company manager from the court and are conducting raids for the arrest of others involved in this case.”
After publication of reports in the print and electronic media the accused have gone underground, he said. Sources in the ACE said that former Punjab Saaf Company CEO Waseem Ajmal, who is a DMG officer, was also among those nominated in the FIR. Another officer, Awais Yasin, currently serving in Lesco as secretary of companies and a PCS officer, was also wanted by ACE in this case.
An office of the Punjab Saaf Pani Company (PSPC), a safe drinking water supply project launched by the Punjab chief minister, was raided by ACE Punjab officials a few days ago. The acting project manager of the PSPC was arrested. The accused was facing charges of corruption worth millions of rupees in the company’s several schemes.
The Acting Project Manager of PSPC, Malik Waris, and other officials of the company also faced scrutiny and were interrogated by ACE officials. Company’s contracts, procurement data and their appointments have also been seized for examination.
An ACE official said that during the raid they checked records of the Punjab Saaf Pani Company. After a detailed examination, the ACE found the records provided solid evidence against several other officials of the company.
Malik Waris was in his office situated at MM Alam Road when he was arrested.
Reportedly, he pocketed millions of rupees, which were allocated to the company as its general capital. The Punjab Saaf Pani Company is one of the companies facing Rs80 billion corruption allegations.
